Electrician Schools and Training in North Carolina

Beginning a new career can be tough, so, we've put together the post below to help you jump into a career as an electrician in North Carolina. If we haven't answered all your questions, please feel free to leave us a comment at the bottom of the page, or jump over to our "Contact Us" page and send us an email. Electricians are vitally important to our way of life, and we're glad to answer any questions you have about the career.

How To Become An Electrician In North Carolina​

Most electricians in North Carolina enter the trade in one of two ways: they either attend one an electrician school or community college, or they find and apply for a position as an apprentice.

Both are excellent options, and can lead to a long and prosperous career. But which one is the right choice for you? Let's take a look.

North Carolina Electrician Schools​

There are electrician training programs offered at many of the community colleges in North Carolina, and they do a great job of training students for work in the field. They tend to offer an affordable education, and all you need to apply is a high school diploma or a GED/high school equivalency degree.

There are also private vocational schools that offer more focused training for electricians. These tend to be a little bit more pricey.

Both community colleges and private trade schools teach the skills that electricians need to know, including how to:​

Check the work that other electricians have done, to make sure that electrical cables were installed in a safe way;

Maintain a building's electrical wiring over the course of many years.

There are a few benefits of going to an electrician school. First, you'll be able to start whenever you want to, and when you graduate, you'll have sought-after job skills that should help you find work (depending on the local economy, of course!). Also, the laboratory environment that schools use to teach hands-on skills is very safe, and that's important for many people.

And, of course, there are the drawbacks: the biggest is that some schools are VERY pricey, and the credits you earn may not be transferable to other educational institutions (this is something you should ask about when you visit).

Apprenticeship Opportunities​

The other avenue that many electricians take is the apprenticeship route. Apprentices work side-by-side professional electricians on the job site, and "learn with their hands." Early in the program, they're given tasks that don't require much skill, and then as they figure out what they're doing, they're given tasks that require more and more skill.

It's a fantastic system, and by the time the program is over--usually about four to five years--the apprentice is fully trained, ready to take licensing exams, and even capable of teaching other apprentices.

The biggest advantage of these programs is that they're PAID. You earn money for every hour you work, and once a year you get a raise. That's a big "perk."

The disadvantages relate to the scarcity of apprenticeships, and the difficulty of attaining one. Because apprenticeships are a popular option, many people sign up for one. So you may have to wait anywhere from a couple of months to a year or two for your apprenticeship opportunity to arrive. The other problem is that not everyone is ready to be accepted: there are a round of interviews you need to pass, and an entrance exam that tests your understanding of algebra and basic electrical theory.

So, what's your next move? If you can find an apprenticeship, that's usually your best option. You can call the numbers we've listed below and see if they have any apprenticeship opportunities available. If you can't find any apprenticeship opportunities, consider school---or try to find an entry-level job as a helper, make connections, and see if you can get an apprenticeship through the connections you've made. It's always wise to learn about all the options available to you, so do your research, and once you find an option that you like, make it happen.​

Your Future Electrician License​

Right now, all you need to figure out is how to get your career started. However, after you get the ball rolling, you'll want to start accruing hours towards your electrician license. Licensed electricians make a higher annual salary than electricians without a license, and they receive better benefits and job security. Attaining a license should always be on your mind.

which allow people to various tasks on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. There is also a Residential Dwelling license (SP-SFD) that allows people to work on single-family houses.

Finally, there are six specialty licenses:​

Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning (SP-PH);

Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV);

Elevator (SP-EL);

Electric Sign (SP-ES);

Groundwater pump (SP-WP); and

Swimming Pool (SP-SP).

You'll need to accrue a certain number of hours for each license, and you can do that by graduating from one of the electrician schools in North Carolina, getting a job, and recording your hours, or completing an apprentice program.

Of the trades we sampled, licensed electricians earn about the same annual income as plumbers and HVAC workers, but earned $6,620 more than carpenters and $14,590 more than construction workers.

Of the trades sampled, plumbers, HVAC professionals, and electricians each made more than $40k per year, whereas carpenters and construction workers earned less. Plumbers, HVAC professionals, and electricians also earn just about $20 per hour, whereas carpenters earned a little over $16 an hour, and construction workers earned $12.48 per hour.

Perhaps the most notable statistic is the comparison of electrician salaries with construction laborer salaries. Electricians earned $40,550 (or $19.50 per hour), whereas construction workers earned $25,960 (or $12.48 per hour). That's $14,590 more as an electrician, or an increase of 56.2%. It pays to pick the correct career!

Remember, the figures that we have listed above represent the mean (average) income---if you decide to enter the electrician trade, you could end up making more, and you could end up making less. Your income is determined by where you live, what area of electrical work you go into (some areas pay more than others), and how much effort you're willing to put into your career!

Electrical Schools​

We've put together a list of electrician schools and community colleges that have electrical training programs. After that, we've listed all of the apprenticeship opportunities we could find in North Carolina.